Saying no to my husband is difficult and often leaves me feeling that I have done something wrong. A great example is that we were recently looking at a job that needed to be done in the backyard. It was something he used to do and so it was normal that he would expect me to be able to do it too. It was not something I felt I could do yet I had to say “no” several times before he realized that I meant it. I came away feeling like I had let him down and the project is still there. When we can talk about it again, we will come up with a modification or call someone for help.

The “no” extends beyond our home. I am learning more and more that we need to protect what we have. I need to be able to say “no” to requests that are outside of my capacities, especially any that would interfere with my ability to be here for my husband. I carefully examine opportunities as they come up before deciding if it is something I can add to my already full list. Prioritizing, evaluating, and then deciding when to say “no”, it’s all an integral skill I have had to learn as we continue on our journey.